The Kano State House of Assembly has officially passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) of 2024 after successfully clearing the third reading stage.
This legislation effectively nullifies the establishment of the five new Emirates within the state.
Under the provisions of the newly enacted law, all administrative offices previously established in accordance with the repealed law are hereby dissolved. Similarly, district heads who were appointed or elevated under the now-repealed law are instructed to revert to their previous positions.
The Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment Number 2) Law of 2024 was championed by Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and representative of the Dala Constituency in the assembly.
Originally, the law creating the five new emirates received assent from former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on December 5, 2019. Subsequent amendments were made by the Governor on October 14, 2020, and April 11, 2023. It was also the law which has now been repealed that sacked the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.
Section 3(1) of the law delineated the jurisdictions of the five distinct emirates: Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye. Notably, Kano and Karaye each had jurisdiction over eight local government areas, while Bichi and Gaya emirates shared nine local government areas each. The Rano Emirate’s jurisdiction spanned ten out of the 44 local councils in the state.
Following the deposition of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to designate the chairman of the council as the Emir of Kano Emirate.
Section 12 of the law grants the Governor the authority to categorize the office of an emir as first, second, or third class, subject to the approval of the House of Assembly.
An unnamed principal officer of the assembly affirmed the assembly’s determination, stating, “No Jupiter can stop the assembly from amending the law.”